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About Me

Nicole @ Nicole About TOwn

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A 30 something in love with books. All books. I strive to give honest and open reviews and opinions. Since I first learned to read at 4 years old I have pretty much read anything that I can get my hands on, and I want to share that love of reading and books with you!

So that's it for my mailbox this week. If you are into cookbooks, you need to check out the selection from Random House. They are amazing. I am quite enjoying Everyday Food Light and the recipe's are quick, easy and delicious.

I of course had to pick up a finished copy of Clockwork Prince. I have already read and reviewed it (you can read it here) and I also bought a paper copy of City of Fallen Angels to complete my Mortal Instruments collection so far.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. Basically, it’s a chance to highlight one of the many books that you want to read but hasn’t been released just yet. This week I have selected 2 books.

“Don’t even think of leaving…I will find you,” he whispered. “Guaranteed.”

Sara and her mom have a plan to finally escape Sara’s abusive father. But when her mom doesn’t show up as expected, Sara’s terrified. Her father says that she’s on a business trip, but Sara knows he’s lying. Her mom is missing—and her dad had something to do with it. Each day that passes, Sara’s more on edge. Her friends know that something’s wrong, but she won’t endanger anyone else with her secret. And with her dad growing increasingly violent, Sara must figure out what happened to her mom before it’s too late…for them both.

THE REISSUE OF the classic Grimm tale of a beautiful young girl with skin as white as snow, lips and cheeks as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony is breathtakingly realized by acclaimed artist Charles Santore in this lush, lovely picture book.

Just how amazing do those illustrations look? How can you possibly resist getting this version? I think I may just have to preorder it.

He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.

Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.

When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.

Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right?

In an interwoven tale of unlikely loves and relationships forged by fire, Debra Anastasia takes readers into the darkest corners of human existence, only to show them the radiant power of pure adoration and true sacrifice. Complicated families and confused souls find their way to light in this novel, which manages to be racy, profane, funny, and reverent all at once.

Livia felt her rage ignite. "Well Oily Comb-Over, looks like I need to buy you a load of Shut Your Mouth for your birthday."

"I...was...screaming like a man...with a cat on his nipple." Beckett slapped his hand of his desk.

Livia held her spatula as Blake whispered in her ear. “I see us just like this a hundred years from now, old and deaf. I’ll be the luckiest man.”

Emotion caught her—this was all she wanted. Simple, beautiful frittata moments with this man.

“Someday, Livia, I’ll be man enough to buy the food,” he continued. “I’ll give you an oven. I’ll try so hard.”

I have said it before and I will say it again, I love Debra Anastasia. This love began with her debut novel Crushed Seraphim, and it then followed into my love for her on Twitter (you can follow her here). So when I was contacted about possibly reviewing a copy of her latest book Poughkeepsie, I didn’t hesitate to jump at the chance. Best. Decision. Ever.

I admit, that when I started reading Poughkeepsie, I had absolutely no idea what the book was about. The fact that Debra wrote it was more than enough to get me to read it and I can honestly say that I wasn’t disappointed.

It’s still hard for me to define Poughkeepsie and tell you exactly what it was about, but I will give it a shot.

At its core Poughkeepsie is about a romance between Blake and Livia. But to say that that was all Poughkeepsie was about is to seriously sell the book short. Yes, it is about romance. But it is also about family. It’s about connections. It’s about the resilience of the human spirit.

The characters that Debra Anastasia has created are just phenomenal and support the story so well. You have Livia who has a heart of gold, Blake whose spirit is so heartbreakingly beautiful, Kyle who is lost an constantly searching to be enough, Cole who has struggled to contain the rage inside of him, and Beckett. Who could forget wonderful, conflicted, loyal and naughty Beckett? On the surface, none of these characters seem to have anything in common with one another. As you dive further and further into the story, you see the ties and bonds between them and you watch as they are tested, reformed and strengthened.

There is plenty of action, suspense, romance and hilarity to be found in Poughkeepsie. Debra Anastasia has outdone herself with her latest novel and as long as she keeps writing like this I will keep reading.

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There are 2 eCopies of Poughkeepsie to give away on the blog today. To enter, please use the rafflecopter widget below.

Good Luck!

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In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.

The purpose of the meme is to highlight books that you have received in your mailbox over the past week.

On Friday afternoon, myself and some of my bookish friends met up for a shopping trip to the World's Biggest Bookstore in downtown Toronto and then headed over to grab some dinner at the Pickle Barrel! It was great fun, and great to catch up with a bunch of ladies I absolutely adore. *Waves hi to Angel, Michelle, Christa, Natasha, Sara, Jen and Wendy*